Several noteworthy cruise developments were announced over the past 24 hours. Today's headlines include a major expansion of Holland America Line's European deployment, operational changes affecting some European river cruises due to low water levels, and progress on a new cruise terminal that will expand capacity at Port Tampa Bay.
Holland America Expands Its 2028 Europe Cruise Season
Holland America Line has opened bookings for its largest European deployment in years, with five ships scheduled to operate throughout the region during the 2028 season. The expanded program stretches from January through December and includes cruises throughout the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Norway, the Canary Islands and the British Isles.
The deployment also marks the return of Nieuw Amsterdam to Europe for the first time in more than a decade. According to the cruise line, the season includes its highest number of visits to Ireland, the Netherlands and Norway in many years, giving travelers considerably more itinerary choices than previous seasons.
For travelers planning well in advance, the announcement provides access to a much broader selection of European sailings and departure dates than Holland America has previously offered.
Low Water Levels Affect Some European River Cruises
Phoenix Reisen has introduced flexible rebooking options for guests scheduled to sail on portions of the Danube, Rhine and Moselle rivers after unusually dry conditions lowered water levels across parts of Europe.
The company said passengers booked on affected departures through August 14 may change to another eligible sailing without paying a rebooking fee. Cruises have not been broadly canceled, and the line emphasized that itineraries will continue operating unless guests are contacted directly. Depending on river conditions, some sailings may require modified routes or transfers between ships.
River cruise travelers sailing over the next few weeks should continue watching for updates, as water levels can change quickly during extended periods of dry weather.
Port Tampa Bay Begins Work on Fourth Cruise Terminal
Port Tampa Bay has begun site preparation for a fourth cruise terminal, the port's first new cruise facility in more than 25 years.
Current work includes filling a former marine slip and preparing more than five acres for future construction. Additional infrastructure work is expected over the next several years, with the terminal currently projected to open in 2029.
Although the project will not affect current cruise operations, it represents a significant long-term expansion that will allow the port to accommodate additional cruise ships and support future growth.
The past 24 hours brought several cruise developments that could affect upcoming vacations and future travel plans. Here's a look at the most important cruise news published over the past day.
Seven Seas Navigator Begins Farewell Voyages in Northern Europe
Regent Seven Seas Cruises' Seven Seas Navigator has arrived in the United Kingdom to begin a series of farewell sailings before its retirement from the fleet. The 490-passenger ship, which entered service in 1999, will offer voyages from Dover, Stockholm, and Le Havre through the Baltic, Scandinavia, and Western Europe before returning to the Mediterranean for winter. The ship is scheduled to be transferred to Avora Residences in late 2027 for conversion into a residential cruise vessel. Travelers interested in sailing this ship before it leaves Regent's fleet have a limited window, as its remaining itineraries wind down over the next year.
Construction Progresses on Royal Caribbean's Fourth Icon-Class Ship
Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland has completed the hull assembly of the Hero of the Seas, the fourth ship in Royal Caribbean's Icon-class series. The 250,800-ton vessel's final hull block was lifted into place on July 10, and construction is now moving into cabin installation and system work ahead of a planned float-out. The 5,610-passenger ship is scheduled to enter service in August 2027, sailing seven-night Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries from PortMiami with visits to Perfect Day at CocoCay. This follows the recent debut of the Legend of the Seas, the third Icon-class ship.
Carnival Panorama Guests Warned of No Parking for Sunday Departure
Carnival Cruise Line has notified guests booked on Carnival Panorama's July 26 departure from Long Beach, California that no terminal parking will be available for their sailing. The shortage coincides with the Vans Warped Tour music festival taking place adjacent to the cruise terminal the same weekend, which is expected to cause heavy traffic and street closures near the port. Carnival is advising guests to use rideshare or drop-off services and to allow extra travel time, noting that late arrivals will not be permitted to board and that no refunds are given for missed departures due to traffic delays. The ship's departure time and itinerary to Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada are unaffected.
Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Gem Complete Guest Facility Refurbishments
Norwegian Cruise Line has finished a round of upgrades aboard Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Gem, adding an adults-only Vibe Beach Club to both ships along with expanded wellness facilities in the Mandara Spa and Salon. The redesigned Thermal Suite now includes triple the heated loungers, plus new charcoal saunas, salt rooms, and ice rooms. Norwegian Jade also gained new experiential showers and a cold-plunge pool, along with a Starbucks outlet, while Norwegian Gem received an upgraded whirlpool and thalassotherapy pool. Norwegian Jade continues Alaska sailings from Vancouver this season, while Norwegian Gem is on Mediterranean and Greek Isles itineraries before repositioning to Tampa later this year.
14 Injured as River Cruise Ship Crashes Near Vienna
The river cruise ship Anna Katharina crashed into a quay wall and lock gate on the Danube River near Vienna, Austria in the early morning of July 24, sustaining severe damage to its bow. Fourteen passengers suffered minor injuries, with six taken to a hospital for treatment of back, chest, and neck pain before being discharged the same day. No one went overboard and the ship's hull remained intact. The vessel, operated by Scylla AG for German line Phoenix Reisen, was on a week-long voyage from Passau through Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia when the accident occurred. Remaining passengers have been transferred to another ship to complete their trip, and an investigation into the cause is underway. Travelers with upcoming bookings on this vessel should expect itinerary disruptions while repairs and the investigation proceed.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
